Men are being encouraged to work in Surrey's early education and childcare to ensure children grow up with positive male role models.

The aim of a new campaign by Surrey County Council is designed to redress the gender imbalance as currently only 3.5 per cent of the childcare staff working in Surrey are male.

This means that among the 10,716 voluntary and paid childcare staff only 385 of those are men.

This statistic is still slightly more than the national average. Which currently shows that 2 per cent of the staff working in childcare are men.

The new campaign, which recently featured on BBC breakfast television, is believed to be the only one of it's kind in the country.

Mary Angell, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for children and families, said: “The men we have already working in Surrey say the work is challenging and rewarding as well as fun, and we hope we can welcome many more men to the profession in the future.”

Ms Angell also mentioned the importance of a positive male role model for young children.

Stephen Liddle, a play worker at Allsorts After School Club in Weybourne, said: “In today's society, there are a lot of single parents. I think it's a good idea for men to be there. Children can look up to you, like a second dad really.”

Dan Wadley, manager of the Butterhill Play Group mentioned the difficulties for men entering childcare. “Being a man in childcare can be tricky at times,” said Mr Wadley.